The migration of birds is far more than a voyage; over the past 150 million years, every system in a bird's body has evolved to maximize power and minimize weight until, for many birds, the length of their journey is limited only by the size of our planet. This striking visual study—illustrated with more than 70 color photos (up to 8 1/2 x 11 inches), maps showing migration routes, and drawings depicting the mechanics of flying—describes some of the world's most dauntless voyagers. Ornithologist Janice Hughes discusses bird migration through human history, with profiles of Chinese cranes and phalaropes; the five Ws of avian migration, with profiles of shrikes and Arctic terns; the phenomenon of flight, with profiles of wheatears and dippers; how birds find their way, with profiles of redwings, fieldfares, and Bohemian waxwings; and migratory birds in peril.

"Hughes takes us on our own richly illustrated journey, from Aristotle to cutting-edge research. The more we discover, the more we humans are privileged to marvel at the wonders and mysteries of bird migration."—John Fitzpatrick